In the wake of the craft cocktail movement, could poptails be far behind?"Poptails" ($12.99) is the clever name for tipsy adult ice pops infused with a jigger of booze. The cookbook that recently crossed my desk is the brainchild of London-based food stylist Laura Fyfe.I was initially intrigued by the idea of freezing alcohol, something that can be difficult to do. "You have to go easy," Fyfe told me in a telephone interview regarding the amount used to spike each recipe, "but they still have quite a kick."Indeed, it's a delicate ratio. Still, Fyfe's ice pops are saucy even though they have only 4 tablespoons of alcohol per recipe."Freezing dulls the flavors of the ingredient so the alcohol tastes stronger than if you mixed it in a glass," she said.I made three flavors: the super-green cucumber Gin Zing, a tasty Pomegranate, Vanilla and Vodka and an English Summer Cup with slices of apple, strawberry and mint. The recipes are simple, delicious and complex, just the sort of layering of flavors we demand from our favorite cocktails.But I must admit that during our photo shoot, more than half of the ice pops refused to unmold when pulled by the handle. When life gives you lemons, make slush instead. When I asked Fyfe about my dilemma, she said she always uses traditional wooden sticks.On closer inspection I realized every frosty photo in Fyfe's book was styled with traditional wooden sticks. A quick Google search revealed all kinds of poptails out there -- check out endlesssimmer.com and Pinterest -- and all of them on wooden sticks. (And I thought that was strictly an aesthetic choice, since none of the recipes specify wooden sticks over the plastic sticks that typically come with the molds sold at nearly every department store this time of year.)"Wooden sticks are much better," Fyfe told me, "because they hold and offer a bit more friction."She also advises dipping the molds in hot water to help get just enough melt to loosen the ice pop.Like Fyfe, plenty of folks are getting on the poptail bandwagon as a novel way to beat the summer heat. Food & Wine Magazine's July issue features Mojito-Watermelon Pops. And remember: If your poptail fails, there's no reason not to slurp it up as a snow cone or slush instead.English summer cup 1/4 cup superfine sugar 4 tablespoons Pimm's gin-based liquor 1 cup ginger beer (or lemonade) 1/4 cup sliced strawberries 1/4 cup sliced apples 18 small mint leavesPlace the sugar and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan and slowly bring to a boil, allowing the sugar to dissolve. Let simmer gently for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat.Add the Pimm's and ginger beer or lemonade. Let cool completely.Divide the strawberries, apple slices and mint leaves among six frozen ice pop molds. Pour over the Pimm's mixture and insert the sticks.Place molds in the freezer for 6 hours, until frozen solid.Makes 6 pops. Per pop: 76 calories (1 percent from fat), trace total fat (no saturated fat), no cholesterol, 14 grams carbohydrates, trace protein, 3 milligrams sodium, trace dietary fiber.Pomegranate, vanilla and vodka 1/2 vanilla bean 1/4 cup super-fine sugar 11/2 cups pomegranate juice 4 tablespoons vodkaScrape the seeds from the vanilla bean and place pod and seeds in a saucepan with the sugar and 1/2 cup water. Slowly bring to a boil, allowing the sugar to dissolve. Let simmer gently for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat. Allow to infuse for 30 minutes.Remove the vanilla pod from the syrup and mix in the pomegranate juice and vodka. Pour into four frozen ice pop molds.Place the molds in the freezer. Let set for 2 hours, insert the sticks and allow to freeze until completely solid (about 4 more hours).Makes 4 pops. Per pop: 135 calories (1 percent from fat), trace total fat (no saturated fat), no cholesterol, 26 grams carbohydrates, trace protein, 11 milligrams sodium, no dietary fiber.The Jaliscito 1/2 cup super-fine sugar Grated zest of 1 lime 1/3 cup lime juice (3 to 4 limes) 2 cups chopped watermelon 6 tablespoons tequila 2 tablespoons Grand MarnierPut the sugar and lime zest in a saucepan with 1 cup water. Place over low heat. Gently bring to a simmer, allowing the sugar to dissolve. Let bubble gently for 5 minutes, remove from the heat and pour in the lime juice.Place the chopped watermelon in a food processor or blender, add the lime syrup, tequila, Grand Marnier and agave nectar and blitz until well combined.Pour into a freezer-safe container, cover, and place in the freezer for up to 6 hours, giving it a good stir every 2 hours. Remove from the freezer, blitz in a food processor or blender, and pour into glasses. Allow to thaw a little (approximately 10 minutes), then serve.Makes 6 slushes. Per slush: 136 calories (2 percent from fat), trace total fat (no saturated fat), no cholesterol, 24 grams carbohydrates, trace protein, 2 milligrams sodium, trace dietary fiber.Bee's knees 2 tablespoons honey 4 tablespoons whiskey 2 cups ginger beerPut the honey and whiskey into a bowl and, using a small whisk, mix together until well combined. Gradually whisk in the ginger beer, making sure that everything is thoroughly blended.Pour into six ice pop molds and place in the freezer. After 2 hours, give each one a good stir. Freeze for another 2 hours, stir and insert the sticks. Return to the freezer and freeze for another 2 hours, until completely solid.Makes 6 pops. Per pop: 76 calories (none from fat), no fat, no cholesterol, 15 grams carbohydrates, no protein, 11 milligrams sodium, trace dietary fiber.

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